Cubs and Pirates Set for Pitching Duel as Rookie Cade Horton Faces Cy Young Hopeful Paul Skenes
As the Chicago Cubs aim to clinch their series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Tuesday night’s matchup at PNC Park promises to be a thrilling pitching showdown. The Cubs (86-64) look to build on their momentum after a decisive 4-0 victory over the Pirates on Monday, where home runs from Michael Busch and Pete Crow-Armstrong solidified their win. Jameson Taillon was stellar on the mound, delivering six shutout innings to secure the victory.
Cubs’ Rising Star Cade Horton
In a quest for their second consecutive win, the Cubs will turn to rookie sensation Cade Horton. With an impressive record of 10-4 and a 2.70 ERA, Horton has emerged as a formidable force in his first MLB season. He showcased his talent last week against the Braves, allowing just one earned run over 6.1 innings while striking out two.
Horton has been particularly dominant in recent outings, boasting a 5-1 record and a minuscule 1.24 ERA over his last seven starts. In that span, he has accumulated 36 strikeouts and issued only seven walks across 36.1 innings. Opponents are hitting just .223 against him, and he holds a WHIP of 1.11. As the season progresses, Horton is not only a contender for Rookie of the Year but also a strong candidate for a spot in the Cubs’ postseason rotation.
Pirates’ Ace Paul Skenes
On the opposing side, the Pirates (65-86) will counter with their own young star, Paul Skenes, who boasts a 10-9 record and an impressive 1.92 ERA. Skenes has been somewhat of a hard-luck pitcher this season, especially in the first half, but he has found his groove lately. Over his last seven starts, he has gone 4-1 with a remarkable 1.58 ERA, racking up 49 strikeouts while allowing only five walks in 40 innings of work.
In his most recent outing against the Orioles, Skenes pitched five innings, giving up just two hits while striking out eight. Despite a no-decision in that game, his ability to dominate at the plate has made every hit against him a valuable commodity for opposing teams.
Injury Updates for the Cubs
As the Cubs prepare for this pivotal game, they are managing a few injuries in their lineup:
Owen Caissie, OF (7-day concussion): Suffered a concussion after colliding with the wall on September 7, eligible to return on September 14.
Kyle Tucker, OF (10-day left calf tightness): Retroactive to September 6, Tucker continues to recover and has been participating in running drills.
Miguel Amaya, C (10-day left ankle sprain): Amaya is set to DH for Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday as he works his way back.
Daniel Palencia, RHP (15-day right shoulder strain): Palencia may throw off a mound in Pittsburgh this week as he nears his return.
Ryan Brasier, RHP (15-day left groin strain): Little update available, but he recently threw a bullpen session for Cubs coaches.
Eli Morgan, RHP (60-day right elbow): Currently on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa.
Justin Steele, LHP (60-day left elbow surgery): Out for the season following surgery earlier in the year.
How to Watch
Fans eager to catch the action can tune in as follows:
Game Day: Tuesday, September 16
Game Time: 5:40 p.m. CT
Watch: Marquee Sports Network (Cubs); SportsNet PIT, SportsNet-PIT+ (Pirates)
Listen: 670 The Score, WRTO 1200 (Cubs), KDKA-FM 93.7 (Pirates)
As the Cubs and Pirates gear up for what promises to be an electrifying night of baseball, all eyes will be on the mound as two of the league’s bright young talents face off. The stakes are high, and the excitement is palpable in Pittsburgh.
